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 Neverwinter Nights  Hordes of the Underdark Character Builds Epic Character Builds - Troubadour Guardian
Epic Character Builds - Troubadour Guardian
Created by Brian "Flameoftheabyss" Quah
 "More! More!" the crowd roared and tankards clanked in appreciation. A slight woman with dark red hair took a deep breath and bowed with infinite grace atop the small stage. Everyone knew she was not some traveling vagabond with a tale or two to entertain but a real performer from the city that had come by chance to stay in their humble inn for the evening. The room was entranced by her lilting voice and the plucking of her fine gilded Pixie Harp. They would not see her like again for many years in this town. The cheers continued.
The thick wooden door crashed open letting in the bitter winter air. The room turned at the intrusion. It was Badge and his smelly crew. Some turned away, the mood ruined by the appearance of the local hoodlums; others dared a hateful look.
"Wot's this? A bit of silk eh? Come darlin' lets have a ditty" Badge snarled at the tiny singer; his men pushing forward toppling drinks and tables. Their smell of homemade barrel ale drifted through the room. Badge moved close enough to the singer to grip her leg with a callused hand tipped with greasy nails. "Let's 'ave a ditty." His voice was slurred and his eyes bloodshot. The grip tightened.
The singer smiled. A vastly disarming smile that lit the room from wall to wall. "Well sir, let me play you something special." With practiced movements she began to strum a single cord on her harp. Her voice lifted into the musky air of the tiny inn.
None could remember what followed and none ever knew what happened to Badge and his men for they were never seen again.
Hail the Troubadour Guardian, a strange personality rarely seen in the Realms. She combines arcane magic, divine blessings, and inspiring music into a formidable fighting machine.
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Troubadour Guardian
Overview
Bard: 35
Paladin: 4
Pale master: 1
Race: Human
Alignment: True Neutral
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"Full In-Game Stats"
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Starting Stats
Str: 14
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 8
Cha: 16
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Final Stats
Str: 14
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 8
Cha: 36
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Final Skills
Taunt: 43
Discipline: 43
Concentration: 43
Perform: 43
Tumble: 40
Spellcraft: 40
Heal: 27
Use Magic Device: 12
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Equipment
Full Plate (or robes)
Rapier
Tower Shield
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Troubadour Guardian Advantages
- High AC
- Numerous buffing abilities
- High saving throws
- Reasonable spellcasting capability
- Good skill rolls due to Bard Song
- Reduces opponent's skill rolls with Curse Song
Troubadour Guardian Disadvantages
- Mediocre hit points
- Ineffective against characters who possess high AC, such as monks, rogues, assassins, pale masters, dragon disciples, epic wizards and sorcerers, and other paladins
- Weak against rogues and assassins, who can sneak up on her
- Weak spell DC and spell penetration
Notes
Saving throws are decent as the Troubadour Guardian is blessed with a +13 bonus from Divine Grace.
The Troubadour Guardian has no access to any Paladin spells, but has a vast array of Bardic spells:
- Level 0: All cantrips
- Level 1: Mage Armor, Grease, Balagarn's Iron Horn, Charm Person, Cure Light Wounds
- Level 2: Bull's Strength, Eagle's Splendor, Darkness, Ultravision, Cloud of Bewilderment
- Level 3: Haste, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, Confusion, Wounding Whispers
- Level 4: Cure Critical Wounds, Hold Monster, Dismissal, War Cry, Improved Invisibility
- Level 5: Ethereal Visage, Greater Dispelling, Healing Circle, Mind Fog, Summon Creature V
- Level 6: Dirge, Energy Buffer, Ice Storm, Mass Haste, Summon Creature VI
The most important spells are the buffing spells such as Bull's Strength, Eagle's Splendor, Mage Armor, Haste, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, War Cry, Improved Invisibility, Energy Buffer, and Wounding Whispers.
- Turn Undead: She has 8 uses of Turn Undead per day. The Turn Undead power itself is extremely weak for this character, but the Turn Undead charges can be used for any of the below abilities as well
- Divine Might: +13 Divine Damage for 13 rounds (14-15 damage and rounds if buffed)
- Divine Shield: +13 Dodge AC for 13 rounds (14-15 AC and rounds if buffed)
- Divine Damage: This type of damage is rarely resisted by enemies, so it is very helpful when dealing with enemies that have large amounts of damage reduction
- Divine Shield: Divine Shield offers a huge AC boost and can be a life saver when swamped by enemies and while performing spellcasting
- Smite Evil: Once each day the character can use Smite Evil: +13 (+14-15 if buffed) to attack, though only a measly +4 damage; still, it is useful for providing a single accurate blow to an opponent
- Lay On Hands: Once per day, the Troubadour Guardian can use Lay On Hands to channel 13 X 4 = 52 (56 or 60 if buffed) points of Positive energy that can be used for healing (making it just as good as the Heal spell) or for attacking an undead creature with a low touch AC that is susceptible to Positive energy; it isn't much, but it's still something
The Troubadour Guardian is a master of scoring criticals, with a 30% chance per hit, or 45% if her rapier is buffed with Keen Edge! This can vastly increase her damage potential, hitting up to 2 times her normal damage.
Probably her most significant ability is her Bardic music. With a Level 35 Bard Song and a modified 56 Perform, she can provide 30 temporary hit points, +7 to skill rolls, +5 AC, + 2 Fortitude, +2 Reflex, +3 Will, +2 Attack, and +3 Damage to all nearby allies, or cause the opposite on enemies. Her song lasts 5 Hours.
The Troubadour Guardian has two different strategies in fighting.
- If she has the element of surprise, she should cast buffing spells somewhere safe, while unarmored, and then wear her full battle gear and pounce upon her enemies.
- If she is ambushed, she can cast Still spells, while having the Improved Expertise Combat mode activated.
The Troubadour Guardian probably doesn't have to worry too much about getting hit once fully buffed, as she can reach up to 58 AC without any magical items. As for her attack bonus, she can have up to +39/+34/+29/+24 without any magical items. And let's not forget her saving throws, which can reach up to a decent 36 Fortitude, 38 Reflex, and 39 Will, without any magical items.
This character is even more powerful when she has access to magical equipment. The number one focus should be on items that boost Charisma. Every increase to the Charisma bonus results in improvements to:
- Divine Grace saving throw bonus
- Divine Might damage bonus and duration
- Divine Shield AC bonus and duration
- Smite Evil attack bonus
- Lay on Hands magnitude
- Turn Undead uses per day
- Bard Song & Curse Song magnitude
Items that would be very useful would be Holy Avenger, Epic Gloves of the Minstrel, Rings of Protection, Amulets of Natural Armor, Magic Armor and Shields (preferably ones with reduced arcane spell failure), a Belt of Giant Strength or Belt of Agility, and perhaps Boots of Striding. Also, the Lich Lyrics is a must-have item.
Character Advancement History
Following is the path of the Troubadour Guardian during the first forty levels of his life.
| Character Level | Class | Skill Increases | Feat Selection | Attribute Increase |
| 1 | Bard | 4 Concentration, 4 Discipline, 4 Perform, 4 Spellcraft, 4 Taunt, 4 Tumble, 4 Use Magical Device | Curse Song, Expertise | |
| 2 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble, 1 Use Magical Device | *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 3 | Paladin | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Taunt, Save 2 | Power Attack *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 4 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 2 Perform, 1 Taunt, 2 Tumble, 2 Use Magical Device | | Charisma |
| 5 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble, 1 Use Magical Device | *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 6 | Paladin | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Taunt, Save 2 | Imp. Expertise *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 7 | Bard | 2 Perform, 2 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 2 Tumble, 2 Use Magical Device | | |
| 8 | Bard | 1 Perform, 3 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble, 1 Use Magical Device | *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | Charisma |
| 9 | Paladin | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Taunt, Save 2 | Divine Might *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 10 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Perform, 2 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 2 Tumble, 1 Use Magical Device | | |
| 11 | Bard | 3 Concentration, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 12 | Paladin | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Taunt | Divine Shield *ALIGMENT SHIFT* | Charisma |
| 13 | Bard | 2 Perform, 2 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 2 Tumble | | |
| 14 | Bard | 2 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 15 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Still Spell | |
| 16 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | Charisma |
| 17 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 18 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Improved Critical (Rapier) | |
| 19 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 20 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | Charisma |
| 21 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma I | |
| 22 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 23 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 24 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma II | Charisma |
| 25 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 26 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 27 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma III, Lasting Inspiration | |
| 28 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | Charisma |
| 29 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 30 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma IV, V | |
| 31 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 32 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | Charisma |
| 33 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma VI, VII | |
| 34 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 35 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 36 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | Great Charisma VIII, IX | Charisma |
| 37 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 1 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Spellcraft, 1 Taunt, 1 Tumble | | |
| 38 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 1 Discipline, 3 Heal, 1 Perform, 1 Taunt | *ALIGNMENT SHIFT* | |
| 39 | Pale Master | 1 Concentration, 4 Heal | Armor Skin | |
| 40 | Bard | 1 Concentration, 2 Discipline, 2 Perform, 2 Taunt | Great Charisma X | Charisma |
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